Exercising device



L. C. REEVES AND M. A. WEBB, JR. EXERCISING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 050.21, I920.

EAiZQfiBS; Patented July 18, 1922.

STATES PATENT QFFEQE.

LESLIE G. REEVES, 0F .PI'IMAN, AND MORTIMER A. WEBB, $3., 0F CAMDEN, NEW JER$EY.

EXERCISING DEVICE.

i,as2,888,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1222.

Application filed December 21, 1920. Serial No. 432,239.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Lnsmn C. REEVES and MORTIMER A. WEBB, J12, citizens of the United States, residing at Pitman, county of Gloucester, and State of New Jersey, and Camden, county of Camden, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and as dumb bells, bars or other structures which have portions of spherical shape or of large cross section.

A further object is to so construct our improved device that when in use, even though it comes in contact with unclot-hed portions of the body, it will not produce any uncomfortable feeling or injure the skin or flesh.

A still further object is to make our improved device so that its weight can be easily and quickly changed to suit various requirements so that persons starting on a series of exercises can begin with a light weight structure and increase its weight as their strength and health increases and improves.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, we attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view proved device,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of our improved device, 7

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the topsection or unit of our improved device,

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the intermediate units, and i Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the lower section or unit of said device.

Referring to the drawing, 7 represents a U-shape or yoke member which may be made by bending a bar of metal so as to of our improvide two upright legs 8 and 9 which have screw threads 10 at their upper ends and which are united at their bottoms by a transversely extending portion 11. A bottom or base section or unit 12, which is preferably made of cast metal, is in the form of a plate of greater length than width as clearly shown in Figures 2, 3 and 6; the same including two elongated side edge sur-- faces 13 which blend smoothly or merge into two curved end surfaces 1 1. The surfaces 13 and 14: intercept the bottom surface 15 by a curved edge 16. The bottom surface 15 of the base unit 12has an elongated groove 17 which extends upwardly; said groove having its ends stopping short of the curved end surfaces 1 1 as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 6. Holes 18' lead upwardly from the ends of the groove 17 to the upper surface 19 of the base unit 12. The bottom surface 15 is preferably made flat andin the present instance includes two other grooves 20 arranged at either side of the groove 17; said grooves 20 serving for lightening purposes and permitting the base unit to be made comparatively long without greatly increasing its weight for purpose of this'character.

The yoke member 7 is of such size that its leg portions can project upwardly through theholes 18 and the transversely extending portion 11 of the yoked member can fit within the groove 17 as clearly shown same shape and size as the edge surfaces 13 and 14: of the base unit 12; these intermediate sections being preferably formed with large openings 22 and holes 23 which register with theholes 18 s that the legs Sand 9 of the yoked member 7 can extend through the holes 13 and a number of-theintermediate units 21 can be arranged in superimposed position as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The uppermost of the intermediate sections be made comparatively thin as the sections specifically designated by the reference characters 2F and 21". The weight of the intermediate sections can be predetermined in pounds so that a person can determine ill") the aggregate weight of the device by the sections or units which have been assembled in the structure. li hile the outer Qt ge surfaces of the intermediate section are of the same shape and size as the surfaces 13 and 1 ol the base section, it unncmssary to pro vide the intermediate units with curved edges such as the edges 16 for the reason that since these. intermetnate units are all applied one on the top of another, there will be no chance of the sections presenting any s edges which would injure the skin or fish of a person using the device since all of the edge surfaces will be substantially flush and it is merely necessary to guard against any fins or extremely sharp projecting ed as which would result from an nterior casting. A top unit has its outer side edges of the same shape as those of the intermediate units and the base unit and also includes two holes 25 which registers with the holes 18 and of the base and intermediate units and he legs 8 and 9 of the yoke member '7 are adapted to project upwardly through the holes 25. The top unit 2% is preferably made solid so as to form a top closure for the space 26 which is formed by the openings 22 ot the superimposed intermediate units. The top edge 27 ot the top unit 2 lis rounded similar to the edge 16 ot the base unit 12. Nuts 28 are screwed on the upper threaded ends of the yoke legs 8 and 9 and a bar :29 in the form of a narrow plate has holes adapted to pass over the screw threaded ends of the yoke legs 8 and 9 and rest upon the nuts 28.

Brackets 30 are secured to the bar and have upright portions 3i which have holes therein through which extend the transverse portion 32 of a bail handle said bail handle having portions extending substantially at right angles to the part 32; said portions having hooked or inwardly extending ends which fit in cavities 36 in the opposite ends ot a hand grip 37; it being noted that the portions of the bail handle are made of circular cross sections so that the parts 34 will swing in the up right portions 31 of the brackets 80 as pivots and the hand grip 37 will be free to rotate on the hooked ends or" the parts 34:. The brackets 31 are preferably secured to the bar 39 by bolts 38 and to secure additional securing means the brackets are preferably provided with holes through which the screw threaded parts of the yoked legs 8 and 9 extend. Thumb nuts 89 are screwed on the upper ends of the yoke legs 8 and 9 and serve to hold the parts together. It will be noted that a device constructed as above described will include a weighted body portion having smooth elongated flat sides and rounded ends; the upper and lowermost parts of which having curved edges. Thus in lifting a device of this character in close proximity to the body it can be held in sliding engagement with the body and yet will not accidentally turn nor will it injure or cause abrasions in the skin of the person taking the exercise. The provision of the bail handle constructed and mounted as above de scribed permits a swinging movement in the direction of the width of the body portion so that arm exercise can be readily taken and the person will have the device under control at all time as has been proved by actual experience and use of the device. Furthermore the device can be set upon the floor and will not accidentally fall over in view of the flat bottom surface of the base unit. in addition to this any of the intermediate units can be removed and by always including the top unit and the base unit there are always present rounded edges. and edge surfaces rendering the device exceptionally convenient and comfortable during use.

While we have described our invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts of our invention may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof. and hence we do not limit ourselves to the precise construction set forth, but consider that we are at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A portable exercising device having an elongated body portion with substantially parallel sides merging into curved end sur- YFRCQS and being of greater length than width; and a handle extending directly upward from the top of said body portion and having a connection wit-h the body portion including a pivot hearing allowing the han dle to swing relatively to the body portion in the direction of the width of said body portion, said handle including a grip extending approximately parallel with the length or said body portion; substantially as described.

2. A portable exercising device of the character described including a body portion made up of a. number or" superimposed sections, said sections being of substantially equal length and width, the length being greater than the width; means for securing said sections together; a handle and means connecting the handle to the body portion and including a pivotbearing having its axis directly over the top of said body portion and extending in the direction of the length thereof whereby the body portion can be lifted by the handle and will swing in the direction of its width; substantially as described.

8. A device of the character described including a body portion having a number of superimposed sections provided with holes spaced apart; a yoked member having leg portions adapted to extend through said holes; clamping means on said yoked member adapted to hold the parts together; and a handle at the top of said body portion whereby the latter can be lifted, said handle being detachably secured jointly to the upper portions of the legs of said yoke, substantially as described. 7

4:. A device of the character described including a body portion having a number of superimposed sections pro-iddedwith holes spaced apart; a yoked member having leg v portions adapted to extend through said holes; clamping means on said yoked member adapted to hold the parts together; and a handle at the top of said body portion whereby the latter can be lifted, the bottom section having a groove in which the transversely extending portion of said yoke member can fit; substantially as described.

5. A device of the character described including a body portion having a number of superimposed sect-ions provided with holes spaced apart; a yoked member having leg portions adapted to extend through said holes; clamping means on said yoked member adapted to hold the parts together; means secured at the top of said body portion providing a handle bearing; and a rotatable bail handle grip connected to said means; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LESLIE C. REEVES. MORTIMER A. WEBB, J R.

lVitnes ses ELIZABETH GARB CHAs. E. Porrs. 

